Home/Rootonym/The rate of ascent or descent: inclination; an upward or downward slope (noun)

The rate of ascent or descent: inclination; an upward or downward slope (noun)

MEMaya EllisonPuzzle Editor · Verified answers

USA Today Rootonym clue · 8 letters · last seen September 7, 2026

Answer
GRADIENT
GRADIENT · 8 letters · puzzle shows GRAD****
The Root
GRADmeans “step, go, walk, degree”

In a sentence: Workmen sanded the steep GRADIENT of the icy road to allow cars to proceed.

About this clue

The Rootonym clue “The rate of ascent or descent: inclination; an upward or downward slope (noun)” has the answer GRADIENT (8 letters), built on the root GRAD, which means “step, go, walk, degree”. See the full September 7, 2026 Rootonym puzzle for the other three words, or browse all Rootonym answers.